Waratahs chairman unloads on outgoing chief executive Hore

Waratahs chairman Roger Davis has launched a blistering attack on outgoing chief executive Andrew Hore, saying his sudden exit was “shit timing” and questioning why he would leave NSW to take up a new role at the Auckland Blues.

Hore formally tendered his resignation on Monday morning, according to Davis, having been linked to the Auckland Super Rugby franchise last week.

Andrew Hore will depart the Waratahs and NSW Rugby after three and a half years in charge. Credit:Janie Barrett

It came as a shock to the NSW board given Hore had appeared in Japan just last week to unveil fellow Kiwi Rob Penney as the club’s new coach for another three seasons. Hore had been boss of the Waratahs and NSW Rugby for three-and-a-half years.

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“I formally communicated with him on Sunday saying, ‘It’s fish or cut bait time, you either are in or out, confirm or deny’,” Davis told the Herald. “He resigned this morning [Monday]. The rumours were circulating and all I had were rumours until this morning. When there is smoke there is fire. Until such time as he tendered his resignation, we were dealing with speculation.

“The season starts soon, so the timing is shit in that regard ... [we] didn’t see it coming. We’ll survive as we always have and hopefully put a good team on the paddock.”

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Davis said he was “surprised” and felt “let down” that Hore, who will not be with the organisation by the beginning of next week, would pack up and leave so abruptly.

As recently as Friday, Davis was quoted as saying he did not know anything about Hore’s intention to leave for the Blues.

“I don’t quite understand the move,’’ Davis said. ‘‘He has achieved a considerable amount in the three-and-a-half years he’s been with us. He’s about to get a brand new stadium, a brand new high performance centre, a new coach and arguably has got the largest player franchise [base] in Super Rugby. I just struggle to understand what he would see in going to the Blues that we don’t have here.

“Admittedly it’s New Zealand and going home, but I’m not sure in the days of professional managers that’s as compelling as a reason as it was in the past. Still trying to come to grips with why he wanted to pull the plug.”

Hore was contacted for comment but said in a statement his departure was “bittersweet”.

“I look forward to seeing the game in NSW prosper and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has made my time here so enjoyable,” he said.

The news has not gone down well at Waratahs HQ, particularly after Hore gave no indication last week he was going anywhere when he spoke at length about the direction the Super Rugby franchise wanted to go in under new coach Penney, who he knew during his days at Canterbury in New Zealand.

With Waratahs assistant coaches and a playing roster yet to be confirmed for 2020 Super Rugby season, Hore’s sudden departure will leave the club scrambling to get a successor in as soon as possible.

Phillip Van Schalkwyk, the Waratahs’ chief operating officer, will fulfil Hore’s role on an interim basis while a replacement is canvassed.

The Waratahs did make a semi-final in 2018 but with Hore in charge results have been underwhelming, with finishes of 10th (2016), 16th (2017) and 12th (2019).

Hore was also a key player in the messy fallout from the Israel Folau saga, which saw the star fullback sacked by the Waratahs and Rugby Australia. He did manage the organisation's relocation to a new headquarters and secured $20 million of funding for a new centre of excellence.

Andrew Hore was also a key figure in the saga surrounding sacked fullback Israel Folau.Credit:Janie Barrett

“It’s been a hard couple of years for Andrew,” Davis said. “We had the Israel Folau issue and a new stadium going on. We had good results and good outcomes, so it was a chance we thought for the next couple of years to celebrate some well deserved success and that’s all gone now. We’ve got to move on. The sun will come up tomorrow. We will find someone to take over the shop and that work will start this week.”